Citrus Heights is getting NorCal’s first Smashburger on March 31. My carnivorous friends scattered across the country generally agree that Smashburger is a decent burger, but I don’t really care. I won’t be eating there, as I generally avoid franchise restaurants like the plague, especially if they don’t serve draft beer. And do we really need another pre-programed burger joint in a city full of local businesses serving great, even famous, burgers? Hell no, says I.

I am, however, highly amused by the PR 101 tactics being employed to attract attention. Bands of Sacramento, are you ready for the big time? Are you ready to ROCK SMASHBURGER? (The caps indicate that you are supposed to mentally read that phrase in your most rocking DJ voice. I choose to hear Shadoe Stevens in my head at his most Fred Rated extreme.)

Continue reading “Smashburger coming, seeks hungry rockers” »

On this St. Patty’s day, it seems a logical time to roll out a few choices when you really, really want to get your beer on.  While none of these places are your traditional choices for a pint of Guinness and corned beef and cabbage, they’re rather perfect choices for brewed goodness the other 364 days a year.

Manderes- From the Gulf of Mexico to the Sprout of Brussels, Manderes has scoured the Earth for the best beers on the planet.  With the motto of “no crap on tap,” the small, two-year-old beer bar and restaurant in Folsom has excelled at marrying unique brews and delicious food. And with twenty beers on tap and almost 100 in the bottle, there’s something for just about every taste. Hungry? Try the short ribs, shellacked with a generous Russian imperial stout glaze, and pair it with a pint of Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye.

Burgers and Brew- The menu might be a bit limited, and the tap might not be all that impressive, but the arm-long list of beers in the bottle (mostly Belgian) is enough to keep the ardent hop-head coming back regularly. Don’t stray too far from the titular menu items of beer and burger however, or you’re likely to be disappointed.

The Shack- With an impressively eclectic tap that ranges from PBR to Belgian ales, and a bottle list that spans the globe featuring some of the best beers anywhere, The Shack has positioned itself as an incredible hangout for the brew connoisseur.  The new menu features bistro favorites like moules fritte and game hen for criminally low prices. It’s a win-win situation. Continue reading “Dear, Where’s the Best Beer?” »

I’m so far ahead of my time that I’m already thinking what I’m going to eat next year. 

Thankfully for me and you, some people still think they can make a go of it in the restaurant business.  My hats off to them (if I wore hats that is– but if I did, I’d probably not wear multiple hats at the same time).  I admire their gumption, their sticktuitiveness, their bluster, their steadfast disbelief in the economic doomsday machine crushing us all in its bloody jaws.  There are a few places on the horizon that have piqued my interest, and a few others that seem stuck in some wormhole feedback loop, never actually progressing towards any kind of state of readiness, yet producing waste product by the ton, trucked away in oversized trash receptacles once a month or so.  But I digress.  Here are a few spots that we should all keep and eye out for in 2009.

The Firestone Building- 16th and L- With a nightclub upstairs and two restaurants downstairs, the Firestone will add a little more to the16th street corridor of what the 16th street corridor already has, that being moderately upscale chains and clubby lounges.  Signs proudly announce that a California Pizza Kitchen will be arriving soon, as well as the slowly materializing Fleming’s Steakhouse (a Morton’s-like chain steakhouse), and finally “Mix,” an adult nightclub from the owner of Mason’s which is just one block away.  Now don’t get too excited, “adult nighclub” doesn’t mean leather masks and crotchless footie pajamas, but rather a club aimed at the over-30 set. Continue reading “Looking Forward to 2009: Grand Opening Edition” »

Being the childhood home of Runnergirl as well as an historical and interesting place, Auburn has long held a special place in my heart.  However, it’s really only in the last few years that I’ve taken the time to really investigate the good vittles up there.  Sure there’s gold in them thar hills, but there’s also some pretty damn good sustenance to be had for the intelligent traveler.  Here’s a trio of options ranging from snowbum casual to trustfund-bum elegant. 

Ikeda’s- The iconic fruit stand cum pie stand cum burger stand is still standing strong.  This is great grub whether you’re on your way up the hill or down it.  Great burgers, great sandwiches, great pies, great fruit, even great salsas.  Don’t believe me?  Try the apple salsa.  Sure it’s more sacrilegious than insisting that God be your co-pilot (rather than letting him drive of course–what, you think you’re a better driver than God?) but the chopped apple, jalapeno, and onion mixture is fantastic, especially with homemade flour tortilla chips (by homemade I mean you have to make them, they’re not sold at Ikeda’s).  Continue reading “Auburn Restaurant Roundup: Beer, Burgers, and Bit of Fine Dining” »

Another fall has arrived and another crop of appley goodness has been laid out for the intrepid daytripper to consume.  Apple Hill is in full harvest mode, and the weather couldn’t be nicer.  The crowds are bound to be overflowing this weekend and the apple themed desserts, pies, breads, jams, trinkets, colostomies, and hardware will overflow from the folksy establishments in the folksy land of folksy Apple Hill.

It occurs to me, as it does every year at this time, that some of you may never have been to Apple Hill.  Hmmm.  I see.  Ok… Well then… What the f*$% are you waiting for!?!  Someone to spoon feed you ‘Hill info like a mother shoveling thin apple puree in the drooling mouth of an overfed infant?  If that’s what it will take, then I’m game.

Here we go:  Who’s a big boy?  Who? Who?  Who wants some applesauce in his little pouty apple barn?  Hmmmm?  Nevermind, I can’t keep that up. Continue reading “Apple Hill Unpeeled 2008″ »

Other than being the title of one of the best and most overlooked Sonny Rollins albums (I know you don’t care about jazz, just humor me), the title above refers to the fact that we’re going to race through your myriad dining options on Sacramento’s Broadway with a no-holds-barred, no-stone-left-unturned, no-child-left-behind attitude.  Are you ready?

Let’s go.  These will be in no particular order (other than geographically west to east):

Jamie’s Bar & Grill- Decent prices for hearty food. My experiences have been underwhelming, but others swear by it. Expect burgers, sandwiches, barbecue, comfort food, cigarette scarred tables, and waitresses that call you sweetheart. Don’t expect a sign above the door.
Two stars- 427 Broadway

Market Club- If you’re looking for a breakfast dive, you’ve found it. Standard breakfast fare with a few Asian touches (fried rice and fried eggs anyone?). You won’t find a better divey yet friendly place located in a produce warehouse yard anywhere.
Three stars-2630 5th St (off of Broadway in the fenced in produce yard) Continue reading “East Broadway Rundown” »

Runnergirl, Stickie, and I got a chance to peek around at all the food vendors last night at Cal Expo.  We came away with a few deep-fried nuggets of information that we just have to share.

1.  GELATO-That’s right.  The EYE-talian delicacy makes its way to the food midway.  Trust me you can’t miss it.  Even if the place didn’t offer the “World’s Largest Waffle Cones,” you’d never walk by without noting the flesh colored columns.

2.  NEW DEEP-FRIED TREATS- Chicken Charlie, that fried food innovator has outdone himself this time.  Going back to his roots, especially the concept of deep frying things that started out as totally fattening meals to begin with, Chuck has a new lineup of fried fare for the fair.  New this year are deep-fried White Castle burgers, deep-fried pop tarts, and deep-fried Spam with pineapple sauce.  

3.  BBQ BEEF SANDWICH- It’s still in the same place, on the eastern end of the fairgrounds, across from the petting zoo, on the way to the horse races.  It’s unassuming, with the word “SAUSAGE” most prominently lit on the sign, but trust me, you need to go and get a BBQ beef sandwich on a lard roll with homemade chips this year.  I’m not suggesting, I’m commanding.

I’m sure you already know that Cheffrey’s has the best sweet potato fries in existence, and that their prime rib burger is one of the best burgers you’ll ever have, and that their house wine is served in half-bottle-sized pours. What, you didn’t know that? Well, it’s about time you went and found out for yourself, isn’t it?

No, I don’t put fingertips to keyboard today to tell you how good the food is at Cheffrey’s. That you should find out for yourself. I instead reach out across the interweb super byway to tell you that owners Mark and Jeffrey are not only creative, talented, hard-working, generous, charitable to a fault, and kind to small animals. No, I tell you today, after perusing the latest News & Review, that they are, in fact, adorable. How else to explain what has to be the cutest coupon ever? How many small business owners do you know that put caricatures of themselves in their promos? None, that’s how many.

Even if the food were only mediocre (which is most assuredly is not) I’d still want to patronize Cheffrey’s just because of its owners’ pluck. (hehe, pluck)

Cheffrey’s, An American Bistro-4235 Arden Way (at Eastern), Sacramento
Food ***1/2 Atmosphere*** Service**

Just in time for this week’s News & Review, I’d like to react to last week’s cover piece on burritos written by Ben Russell. Russell really seems to know how to turn a phrase, and the piece is actually incredibly informative. For example it confirmed my preference for Guerrero’s tortillas as the best tortillas at your local supermarket (or your massive soulless food chain, whatever your preference), and it taught me that the word for people from the state of Jalisco in Mexico is Jaliscenes.

Continue reading “SN&R “on” best burritos” »

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